Should I have responded better to my senior in work?

[Tantrumschmantrum]

I work in a public sector role, but a reasonably technical job. My senior has joined in the last few years coming across from a private company.

Lets my senior Bob. Today he was informed that it was looking like he had a strong case to employ a new team member by the big boss.

Following a chat about how exciting it would be to have a new team member (because work load is at capacity) Bob gleefully said he was going to get Jim in (not real name - from his old job). I realise this happens but wtf? It's not an old boys club. He can't promise Jim a job. Surely HR wouldn't allow this?!

I shut up and went back to work but was actually thinking he really had taken the mikey with that comment. Now I'm a bit cross with myself for not speaking up, even if it was milder than what I've just written. Should I have spoken out?

greendale I want to know where this magical local authority is that is recruiting anything other than social workers!

I’m a bit torn on this one.

It is categorically shit that people are invited to submit to a full application/interview/test process when there is already someone lined up for the job.

But it’s not always the case that they aren’t the right person for the job, even if they do not perform the best through the process.

I think it would be naive to not think that there is a chance that this is not a strong possibility when you apply for any job. Whilst not completely ‘fair’ it’s just the way of the world and we generally take it on the chin don’t we?

However if it’s public sector there is a chance that it will be advertised internally before Jim even gets a look in anyway?

Do we work together Tantrum?

I’m in local government in a specialist role . The other half of the team have a suspiciously high number of people who have worked with their manager in the past. As others have said it is the waste of time and expectation of other candidates as well as Jim may be good but Jenny might be better but she never stood a chance.

It absolutely does not work like this in the public sector!!

It absolutely is how it works - it's how 100% of my current senior team were hired, plus me and a few others.

(Not old nor boys by the way).

Bob will be in for a shock. This is absolutely how it works in the private sector, and very much not how it works in the public sector. Obviously there are still ways around it in the public, but it's a lot harder.

My husband works in IT in central London. Every new job he goes to, he knows someone who knows someone. Or brings someone he used to work with to the new company. Because there's only actually about 50 people working in IT so it seems and they all keep giving each other bloody jobs.

I've lectured him about diversity til I'm blue in the face, but he can't understand why on earth he shouldn't just pick the guy he knows. Which I can see the logic of to an extent. Except all the guys he knows are white. And guys! So it perpetuates the cycle of lack of women and ethnic diversity in IT. So irritating. He's only in his 20s, so not an old boys club by any means - but still perpetuating the cycle.

It’s not how it works on paper in the public sector, but it’s not difficult to work your way round it.

Depending on which part of the public sector you are in, the job will be advertised internally first. If it is a promotion opportunity the chances are that it will be filled before it is advertised externally. There have been a couple of times when a contractor was interested and would have been brilliant but someone eksewhere in the organisation was promoted.
The interview panel will have to ask the same questions and the marks consolidated . Also, if Jim knows your boss it should be declared and boss should not be involved with shortlist or interviews.
Also I thought public sector had gone to anonymous applications where hr remove name, DOB, name of previous employer, and qualifications. Really annoying as had people without correct qualifications getting to interview.

derelict you in a rotten borough?

Not my experience at all, sometimes teams are tuped over as they have specialised knowledge of a key project - im thinking town centre management or an infrastructure project where the main contractor is in financial diffculty or the numbers no longer work - rather than the whole project go belly up you bring it in house.

Day to day runnings, its encouraged to circulate news of the role broadly to expand the pool of candidates - but none of our senior team are "related".

It absolutely does not work like this in the public sector!! Every single part of the recruitment process is auditable and every decision has to stand up to scrutiny.

Ha! Not in my NHS trust it doesn't. Nepotism is alive and well at every hospital I've worked in (and I've been an interviewer not just an interviewee). Generally the lead interviewer know who they are going to employ before they start.

It absolutely does not work like this in the public sector!! Every single part of the recruitment process is auditable and every decision has to stand up to scrutiny.

^Ha! Well in the 3 local authorities I have worked in, nepotism and favouritism are rife. External interviews are held as a formality to tick a box with the internal candidate already earmarked and rubber stamped for the job.

It is an enormous mistake in terms of diversity.

I'm with Op, it's very unfair, that opportunity should be open to everyone, including internal employees and the Op who may wish to apply and develop their careers. They would probably be strong candidates being existing employees and understanding the organisation etc. God I hate work place politics.

Recruitment should be based on meritocracy not, 'who you know'. It hampers diversity which in the private sector very much means you are cutting your nose off despite your face as diversity offers economic advantage. In the public sector it means the best person does not necessarily get the job and there is no diversity of thought which definitely is hampering to public policy and decision making.

derelict you in a rotten borough?

No, but it's not just councils who are public sector...

I work for a non departmental government body (civil service, but not) and we hardly advertise anything, just get people over from other similar organisations, our funding departments, people we used to work with etc. Saves on recruitment fees and removes the worry about hiring a dud.

It's not ok, or fair, it's just how it ws.ork

derelict ah that makes sense, apologies for my tunnel vision there!

Is this a university!
I suspect he just thinks they role is made for him - others may apply - HR usually have very strict rules, but it's easy to appoint the person you want and often at least you know how good they are - interviews can be hit and miss

I thought university too. Worked for one once and this is definitely the sort of attitude they have and the type of thing they would do. The shits.